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Tig


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Hi Jean,

If you were tested repeatedly years ago and received a finding of undetected or no evidence of active infection, then no it would not suddenly start an active infection. Did you have the tests run 6 months apart? If yes, then infection is doubtful. You would have had to have been re-exposed for that to occur years later. The fact that your liver function tests  were normal then and have continued to be, is an indication that your new tests have simply recognized your existing HCV antibodies. Anyone that has had HCV and been "cured" will be HCV antibody + for life. Perhaps you could ask one of your doctors to run a RNA PCR viral load test now. Explain your concern and the stress it is causing. Hopefully they will authorize the test.

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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mallani


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Hi Jean Ray,

Having HepC antibodies means you have been exposed to the HepC virus at some stage. It sounds as if your Viral Load test was negative 15 years ago, which means you do not have chronic HepC.

Having said that, the VL tests were pretty crude 15 years ago, and it was probably the old RIBA test.

For peace of mind (and to satisfy your surgeon) you need to have a new PCR Viral Load test. If this is negative, or does not show any virus, you can relax and forget about it. Cheers.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Jean Ray


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Hello and thank you guys for replying so quickly! I may be mis- understandin so if so please forgive me. Also I may have not given enough detail. Quite a few years ago when it was found that I have the hep c antibodies, I did have the other tests and then they were repeated after a month or so. My GI doc told me there was no active infection, I had cleared it. He said there was no need for treatment or further testing. So here it is around 15 years later and I am needing an elective surgery. Of course the antibodies show up in testing so my my surgeon wants proof  there is no active infection or if there is I must complete treatment before I can have the surgery. So now I have to see a new GI because mine is no longer in practice. My appt. is a while away and so I am very nervous waiting for my appointment and of course even longer for the lab results, which brings me to my question....Provided I have not had any new exposures since my testing 15 years ago, could I now be posiitve for infection after I cleared it all those years ago? Just trying to prepare myself for the outcome.

 

Also,  have never had any abnormal liver studies at all, including the labs I just had last week.



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Dzdayscomin


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What i think is great about this site is the fact that there are so many educated people about this disease, that actually trample each other to try and provide the best information you can get.

Nice job guys.....that is exactly what encouraged me to b e a part of this forum.

Best Wishes Jean Ray.



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Fireman Rob


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Jean,

It looks like Tig and I hit the send button at the same time. The PCR quant test Tig mentioned is the same as the viral titer test I mentioned, just FYI. Tig has awesome knowledge and is spot on with his advice. He's been at this for a long time. Sorry you have to go through this. Hang tough.



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Age 33, Male. GT-1 for ten years. Diagnosed in March, 2014.

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Fireman Rob


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Hi Jean,

Welcome to the forum. First, you need to do a viral titer test to see if you have an active, chronic infection or not? Testing positive for the antibody means very little regarding a formal diagnosis.

Request a CMP while you're at it to see your liver functions (Alt/AST). Just remember, if you have an active infection and a viral load is present, don't worry too much as there are some very effective treatments that are on the market today. If you test positive for a chronic infection, follow that up with a genotype test. There are multiple strains of the virus and you need to know which treatment option is most effective for a specific genotype.

I tried to keep this simple and short. Hope this helps? Good luck! There is no better place to find answers than here.

-Rob



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Age 33, Male. GT-1 for ten years. Diagnosed in March, 2014.

Treated with Sovaldi/Olysio: SVR 24 on February 16, 2015!
Tig


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Hi Jean,

I'm sorry you're having to deal with all of this confusion. It's difficult to say the least. Years ago, when you were active for the antibodies, did your doctor perform a PCR viral load blood test? That is the test that actually looks at the blood for active viral presence. If you did and it was negative or undetected, it could be either a false negative or you had just been infected and there was insufficient viral quantity to show a positive viral load. The tests from years back weren't nearly as sensitive as they are today. 

Best thing is to see your doctor and explain the circumstances and request a RNA PCR Quantitative Viral Load test. It will show if you indeed have an active infection or not. Do your best to not over stress right now. Even if you are positive, the new treatments are easy to tolerate. First things first, see your doctor for the test and then please come back here and let us know.

Please feel free to look around and ask any questions you like. We are here to help you through this! We have many caring and knowledgeable people here. Trust me, you are among friends. Hang in there...

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Jean Ray


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Hi everyone. I am new to the site. I have some questions that I could not find an answer to since I have not had a recent appt. with a gastro doc yet. Many years ago I had some pre-employment testing done and they showed hep c antibodies. The gasteoenterologist I went to for further testing said my test showed no active infection and and I didn't need further evaluation. Just recently I went for some lab work for an elective procedure. Of course the antibodies were present. Now I am unable to have my procedure until the gastro says no infection or if it is active, I must complete treatment first. My question is: if I was clear all those years ago, could it be an active infection now? Thanks in advance for any insight.  



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